(CNN) -- India launched its first lunar mission Wednesday, with hopesof achieving high-resolution images of the moon's topography anddiving into the international space race.

The launch of the unmanned lunar orbiter Chandrayaan-1, or "mooncraft" in ancient Sanskrit, came at 6:20 a.m. Wednesday (8:50 p.m. ET)from the Sriharikota space center.

The two-year mission seeks high-resolution imaging of the moon'ssurface, especially the permanently shadowed polar regions, ISRO said.It will also search for evidence of water or ice and attempt toidentify the chemical breakdown of certain lunar rocks, the groupsaid.

ISRO on its Web site said the mission would lay the groundwork forfuture lunar missions and "probe the physical characteristics of thelunar surface in greater depth than previous missions by othernations."

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It is hard enough to get into orbit around Earth.Then you have to leave Earth Orbit at the correct moment to put you ona track that will lead the Moon enough to feel the Moon'sgravitational pull as it comes around to meet you.Add to that the correct amount of change in velocity to actually becaptured by the Moon's gravity to get you into Lunar Orbit.Finish up with some circularizing adjustments and then begin your mission.

For a really good time, make sure your orbit is adjusted before youget pushed into the Lunar surface or clipped by a tall mountain.

Chandrayaan-1 — which means "Moon Craft" in ancient Sanskrit — isscheduled to launch from the Sriharikota space center in southernIndia at 8:20 p.m. EDT Tuesday in a two-year mission aimed at layingthe groundwork for further Indian space expeditions.

Chief among the mission's goals is mapping not only the surface of themoon, but what lies beneath. If the launch is successful, India willjoin what's shaping up as a 21st century space race with Chinese andJapanese crafts already in orbit around the moon.

"THE MOON" with the history of the early solar system etched on itbeckons mankind from time immemorial to admire its marvels anddiscover its secrets. Understanding the moon provides a pathway tounravel the early evolution of the solar system and that of the planetearth.

Through the ages, the Moon, our closest celestial body has arousedcuriosity in our mind much more than any other objects in the sky.This led to scientific study of the Moon, driven by human desire andquest for knowledge. This is also reflected in the ancient verse.Exploration of the moon got a boost with the advent of the space ageand the decades of sixties and seventies saw a myriad of successfulunmanned and manned missions to moon.Following this, a hiatus of aboutone and a half-decade followed. During this period we refined ourknowledge about the origin and evolution of the moon and its place asa link to understand the early history of the Solar System and of theearth.

India's first unmanned rocket to the moon has been successfully placedin its orbit. ISRO Chairmain Dr G Madhavan Nair described it as ahistoric moment for India.

A rocket is carrying India's maiden spacecraft to the moon,Chandrayaan-1 and the scientists ensured the launch was smooth.

During its two-year life Chandrayaan-1, an Indian mission withinternational partners will map the moon's resources like neverbefore.

snip==============================================================http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ChandrayaanChandrayaan-1 (Sanskrit: चंद्रयान-1, lit: Lunar Craft-1), is an unmanned lunar exploration mission by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), India's national space agency. The mission includes a lunar orbiter as well as an impactor. The spacecraft was launched by a modified version of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle on 22 October 2008.snip==============================================================